>> i'm not privy to the president's processes and how he came up with the decision. all i can tell you is women have been dying and fighting for this nation in combat roles in iraq and afghanistan. they may not have had those jobs specifically other than aviation, my branch of service, they've been fighting in combat and engaged in combat action. i think the last ten years of women serving in combat has finally pushed us to this point where the pentagon has finally realized women have served ably and it's time we open up these folds. >> do you think the president is trying to box republicans into a corner? >> i don't know what the president is trying to do. all i can tell you is that i certainly as a politician supported this throughout my political career but even beforehand. i've been supporting this all along even when people said women aren't capable of doing it. yes, they are. they are capable of defending our country just as well as men. >> you don't want to say what's in the president's mind but from a political standpoint does it box republicans into a corner